San Bernardino County, CA, Biographies
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
PERRY D. COVER
is one of Riverside's early settlers, and has been associated with her various
industries for the past fifteen years. He is a native of Richland County, Ohio,
dating his birth in 1843. His parents were Daniel Cover, a native of Frederick
County, Maryland, and Lydia Cover, nee Stevenson. Mr. Cover was reared to
agricultural pursuits on his father's farm until 1862. He then volunteered in
the service of his country and enlisted as a private soldier in Company D,
Eighty‑seventh Ohio Volunteers. His regiment was sent East, and after some time
in camp at Baltimore, was placed on duty at Harper's Ferry. During Lee's
invasion of Maryland, in 1862, he was on duty at various forts on the Potomac
river. At the surrender of the Union forces at Harper's Ferry, his regiment was
so unfortunate as to be included in the surrendered troops. He was then paroled,
and in October, 1862, his term of service having expired, was discharged the
service. The next year he decided to seek the Pacific coast, and he came
overland with a drove of horses belonging to Samuel Crine. Upon his arrival in
California he located in San Francisco, where he stopped for nearly a year. He
then went to the mining districts of Nevada and Montana, and was for about four
years engaged in mining and other enterprises. In Montana, he was with his
brother, Thomas W. Cover, at Alder's Gulch. He was one of the pioneers of
Bozeman, and was engaged in building the first house ever erected at that place.
In 1868 Mr. Cover settled at Fort Scott, Kansas, and for the next four years he
was engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1872 he established himself in Chicago,
and was there engaged in the grocery business until 1874. At that time the
health of his wife became so impaired that a complete change of climate was
necessary, and he decided to make his home in Southern California, and in the
spring of that year he came to Riverside. Upon his arrival here he purchased a
twenty-acre tract of wild, uncultivated land on Jurupa avenue, two miles south
of Riverside and entered into horticultural pursuits Mr. Cover was a successful
horticulturist and built up the orange groves upon his land. In 1882 he sold ten
acres of his tract, and in 1886 sold the balance and established his residence
on the corner of Orange and Eighth streets. In 1885 he entered into the drug
business on Main street in partnership with J. D. Sebrell, under the name of
Sebrell & Cover. He was in that business until April, 1889, when Mr. Sebrell
purchased his interest. He was also engaged in real-estate dealing and other
enterprises. He was one of the incorporators and the president of the Eighth
Street Improvement Company, and was at the head of that company during the time
the magnificent Arlington Hotel, one of the company's improvements, was erected.
He was a member of the well-known firm of Stewart, Chamberlain & Cover, and was
an incorporator and president of the Mound City Land and Water Company. This
company purchased 500 acres of land and founded Mound City, perfecting a fine
irrigation system by piping water from Bear valley, built a $30,000 hotel, etc.
Mr. Cover is quite largely interested in improving lands, planting orange
groves, etc., at Mound City. He has a firm faith in the future wealth of the
city of his creation. He is also the owner of valuable business property in
Riverside, and never fails in his support of Riverside enterprises. His support
of churches and schools is well-known. He is a member of the Methodist Church,
and was for many years a school trustee of the Arlington district. In politics
he is a Republican, and has been called upon many times to serve as a delegate
in county conventions. Of the fraternal societies, he is a member of Riverside
Lodge, No. 282, I. O. O. F. Mr. Cover has been twice married: His first marriage
was in 1869, when he wedded Miss Mary E. Fowler, a native of Indiana, the
daughter of Colonel A. Fowler, a well-known citizen of that State, and a veteran
of the Mexican and civil wars. She died in 1877. In 1882 he married Miss Julia
E. Fowler, a sister of his deceased wife. Mr. Cover is the father of two
children, viz.: Charles A. and Grace E.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower
California� Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 597-598
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler